This is a reminder that the next Downstate Performance Contracting work group is scheduled for Friday, January 12, 2001 from 1:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. at DCFS, 628 E. Adams, Springfield. (MB)

The next meeting with Judge Bishop is scheduled for Thursday, January 18, 2001, 10:00 a.m.-Noon at Juvenile Court. Judge Bishop would like to address issues of concern to the private agencies at this and future meetings. It will be important for Executive level staff of Cook area agencies to attend this meeting. (MB)

DCFS sent us the following information relating to Licensure and CERAP training.

Here are dates for Licensure and CERAP and PEP ( which is a 5 day combination of 3 days of Licensure and 2 days of CERAP with both tests delivered in that one week). PEP is meant to be for new staff .

Veteran staff can register for either Licensure or CERAP depending on their needs. Registering for any of these classes can be done with Northern Illinois University at 1-800-637-1396. Questions on any training topic can be directed to Mary Ochman-Ahmed at 217-785-5689.

Jan 8 - 10 Aurora Regional Office Bldg

( Part of PEP )

North Conf. Room, 3rd floor

8 East Galena Blvd.

Aurora, IL

630/801-3400

Jan 8 -10 IITRI ( part of PEP)

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

Jan 16 - 18 Holiday Inn Collinsville

1000 Eastport Plaza Dr.

Collinsville, IL

618/345-2800

Jan 16 - 18 IITRI

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

Jan. 16-18 Bloomington

site TBA

Jan 22 - 24 DCFS Field Office

( Part of PEP)

521 S. 11th Street

Springfield, IL

217/782-4000

Jan 22-24 IITRI ( part of PEP)

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

Jan 29 - 31 DCFS Field Office

( part of PEP )

3405 Broadway

Mt. Vernon, IL

618/242-1138

Feb 5 - 7 Hilton Springfield

(part of PEP)

7th and Adams

Springfield, IL

217/789-1530

Feb 5 - 7 IITRI (part of PEP)

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

Feb 13 - 15 IITRI

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago

Feb 20 - 22 IITRI

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

Feb 26 - 28 DTDS Library [Part of PEP )

227 S. 7th Street

Springfield, IL

217/785-5689

Feb 26 - 28 IITRI [Part of PEP)

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

Jan 4 - 5 Hilton (Springfield)

7th and Adams

Springfield, IL

217/789-1530

Jan 4 - 5 IITRI

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

Jan 9 - 10 Holiday Inn Chicago

City Center

300 E. Ohio Street

Chicago, IL

312/787-6100

Jan 11 -12 IITRI [Ochman-Ahmed, Mary] (part of PEP)

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

Jan 11 - 12 Hilton (Springfield)

7th and Adams

Springfield, IL

217/789-1530

Jan 11 - 12 Aurora Regional Office Bldg. [Ochman-Ahmed, Mary]

(part of PEP)

8 East Galena Blvd.

Aurora, IL

630/801-3400

Jan 16 - 17 IITRI

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

Jan 18 - 19 IITRI

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

Jan 25-26 IITRI [Ochman-Ahmed, Mary] ( part of PEP)

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

Jan 25 - 26 NO. Ill University Rockford

8500 East State Street

Rockford, IL

815/332-7339

Jan 25 - 26 DCFS Field Office [Ochman-Ahmed, Mary] (part of PEP)

521 S. 11th Street

Springfield, IL

217/782-4000

Jan 30 - 31 IITRI

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

Feb 1 - 2 IITRI [Ochman-Ahmed, Mary] (part of PEP)

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

Feb 1 - 2 DCFS Field Office [Ochman-Ahmed, Mary] ( part of PEP)

3405 Broadway

Mt. Vernon, IL

618/242-1138

Feb 6 - 7 IITRI

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

Feb 8 - 9 IITRI [Ochman-Ahmed, Mary] (part of PEP)

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

Feb 8 - 9 IITRI

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

Feb 8 - 9 Hilton (Springfield) [Ochman-Ahmed, Mary] (part of PEP)

7th and Adams

Springfield, IL

217/789-1530

Feb 20 - 21 IDOT/State Police Building

1100 Eastport Plaza

Collinsville, IL

618/346-3621

Feb 22 - 23 Aurora Regional Office Bldg.

8 East Galena Blvd.

Aurora, IL

630/801-3400

March 1 - 2 IITRI [Ochman-Ahmed, Mary] ( part of PEP)

10 W. 35th Street

Chicago, IL

March 1 - 2 DTDS Library [Ochman-Ahmed, Mary] (part of PEP)

227 S. 7th Street

Springfield, IL

217/785-5689

It is with a great deal of regret that we need to inform you of the death of Betty Webb Ryan, the mother of CCA Associate Director, Bridget Helmholz. Mrs. Ryan died last Wednesday, January 3^rd, at her home in Columbus, Ohio following a long bout with cancer compounded by a number of other complications. Mrs. Ryan had a long career in the nursing field both as a nurse in WW II and in hospitals in the Columbus area and was very active as a volunteer with numerous organizations in her community.

For those of you who may wish to express your condolences to Bridget, cards can be sent either to the CCA office or to her home address: 3215 Falcon Point, Springfield, Ill. 62707. Memorials are being made in Mrs. Ryan�s memory to: Mt. Carmel Hospice, 1144 Dublin Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43215 or Dominican Home Health Care, 277 Reeb Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43215.

It has been a rough year for Bridget and her family since they also experienced the loss of their father last fall. While death is never an easy reality to deal with, losing both of one�s parents in one year is especially difficult. Since both Bridget�s parents died after long illnesses, we know there is some modicum of peace in this process. There is, however, also a great sense of loss and pain in the parting. So we would ask you to remember Bridget and her family in your thoughts and prayers--there is great comfort in knowing that your friends and colleagues are there in spirit providing support and consolation. (RHM)

On January 3, 2001, Representatives George Miller and Marge Roukema, and others, reintroduced the Younger Americans Act. The new bill number is H.R. 17. This bill will provide assistance to mobilize and support United States communities in carrying out youth development programs that assure that all youth have access to programs and services that build the competencies and character development needed to fully prepare the youth to become adults and effective citizens. The Younger Americans Act will help coordinate and fund youth-mentoring, community service through volunteerism, structured academic and recreational opportunities, and other activities aimed at fostering the positive educational and social development of teens and pre-teens. Under the bill, the federal government would distribute funds by formula to community boards that would oversee the planning, operation, and evaluation of local programs. Funding for local programs in the initial year would be $500 million, and would rise to $2 billion in 2006, in addition to matching funds provided by local and state governments and the private sector. To qualify, each local program would be required to adopt a comprehensive and coordinated system of youth programs with the following five general components: 1.) ongoing relationships with caring adults; 2.) safe places with structured activities; 3.) access to services that promote healthy lifestyles, including those designed to improve physical and mental health; 4.) opportunities to acquire marketable skills and competencies; and opportunities for community service and civic participation. Thirty percent of funds would be targeted to youth programs that address specific, urgent areas of need such as urban and rural communities that currently lack sufficient access to positive and constructive opportunities. (JMS)

Please mark your calendars and plan on attending the SACWIS focus group meeting held on January 26, 2001 at the Hyatt Lisle in Lisle, Illinois. The purpose of this meeting is to solicit input from private agency representatives in those design areas that will be developed as part of SACWIS (Statewide Automated Child Welfare System). All staff in DCFS and private agencies that provide primary case management services to DCFS children will use SACWIS. Services include foster care, home of relative, specialized foster care, therapeutic foster care, intact families and child protection. In Illinois, the Best Practice Model will serve as the foundation for the design and development of the automated system. Implementation will begin October 2001 and is expected to be complete by January 2003.

At the focus group meeting on January 26^th, the specific areas that will be discussed will be case management, archive, court processing, ACR, resources/licensing, health tracking, eligibility, financial, staff maintenance, technical, reporting and interfaces. It is critical that managers, supervisors and administrators from agencies that are familiar with these processes within their agency attend. We want to be sure that any client information system that is designed includes those issues that will impact private agencies. Registration materials were mailed out to all CCA members in December. If you have not received a copy of the registration form, please contact Barb at the CCA office. The meeting is scheduled from 10:00 to 4:00 with registration at 9:30. All persons attending are asked to indicate their top three preferences for focus group discussions. Overnight rooms are available through the hotel at 630-852-1243 and mention the Child Care Association meeting. The cut off date for room reservations is January 10, 2001. If you have any questions, please contact Jan Schoening at the CCA office. (JMS)

For publication names, addresses, phone numbers and editorial names for publications in your locale, contact CCA at [email protected], or call Linda Lenzini at 217-528-4409. Or..if you have a media contact that you would like added to CCA�s media list, send it to [email protected].

Just a reminder that 7pt. paper is required for post card mailings effective January 1, 2001. For exact specifications, contact your local postmaster.

(LLL)

THE ARCH NATIONAL RESPITE NETWORK has developed a Respite Care Public Awareness Guidebook to promote understanding of what respite and crisis care services are, and how these services help families. It is designed to assist in the recruitment and training of respite providers, staff and volunteers and expand the funding base for respite and crisis care services. The materials in the kit are suitable for use by respite and crisis care programs that serve families caring for children, adults and/or seniors. A copy of the ARCH Public Awareness Guidebook and CD-ROM are available for loan through the CCA Library. Interested parties may also obtain a toll-free a free copy of the video and PSA�s in the Beta format used by broadcasters. Contact CCA at [email protected] to obtain a request form. CCA is also available to assist member agencies in planning Respite Public Awareness Campaigns. (LLL)

If your agency has a website, you can be linked to the CCA website. This will enable visitors to the CCA website to simply click on your agency�s name and access your website. Send requests for linkage via e-mail to Linda Lenzini at CCA, e-mail address [email protected].

If your agency would like to receive media updates and advisories, template and CCA news releases, and other items of interest, please send name, agency name, title, and e-mail address to [email protected]. (LLL)

All member agencies should have received a registration form for Child Welfare Day in the mail. The registration form is also downloadable on the CCA website in a Microsoft Word format. Plan now to be a part of this exciting event at the Illinois State Capitol. The day will provide an opportunity to create visibility for your agency�s services and to speak with legislators from your district. Exhibit space for the event is limited, so register soon. For more information or an exhibit registration form, visit the CCA website�s home page to download a copy of the registration form, or contact Linda Lenzini at the Child Care Association at [email protected] or by phone at 217-528-4409.

Does your agency have an innovative program or recent success story that you�d like to share? CCA is interested in sharing your recent success story or innovative program with the rest of the membership. If you would like to be featured on the CCA website with your success story, contact Linda Lenzini at CCA with the details. (LLL)

The CHILD WELFARE LEAGUE OF AMERICA announces the Kids to Kids National Service Award. More information can be obtained by contacting Mary Johnson at CWLA, 440 First Street NW, 3^rd Floor, Washington, DC 20001-2085. Her e-mail address is [email protected]; Tel. (202) 942-0241; Fax (202) 638-4004

Jan. 8-9 � 2001 Business-Education Partnership Recognition Program, Fairmont Hotel, Chicago

Jan. 9 - SACWIS Advisory Committee Meeting, Springfield, IL

Jan. 17 � CCA Board of Directors Meeting, Chicago suburbs

Jan. 26 � POS SACWIS Focus Group Meeting, Hyatt Lisle, Lisle, IL

Jan. 30-31 � Quality Improvement Training, Hilton Lisle/Naperville

Feb. 6 - Workshop on the Effective Research-Based Approaches to the Provision of Services to Youthful Offenders, presented by Dr. Edward Latessa. For more information, call 1-800-252-8045 or 217-522-2663

Feb. 25-28 � 14^th Annual Conference, A System of Care for Children�s Mental Health: Expanding the

Research Base, Tampa Hyatt Regency, Tampa, Fl. Call Lyn Bryan at 813/974-4649 for information.

March 22-23 � CCA�s Spring Membership Meeting, Hyatt Regency Woodfield, Schaumburg, IL